Support structure of high pressure container

ABSTRACT

A support structure for a container ( 1 ) provided with neck portions ( 47, 49 ) on both ends of a longitudinal direction thereof which includes; a first support member ( 5 ) for supporting one of the neck portions ( 47, 49 ) of the container ( 1 ); a second support member ( 7 ) for supporting the other of the neck portions ( 47, 49 ) of the container ( 1 ), and elastically pressing the container ( 1 ) in the longitudinal direction thereof; and a frame ( 3 ) to which the first and second support members ( 5, 7 ) are fixed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a support structure of acontainer, particularly to a support structure of a high pressurecontainer with neck portions at both ends of a longitudinal directionthereof.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-113962 discloses asupport structure for accommodating a fuel cylinder in a concave portionon an automotive floor panel, where a main body of the cylinder is fixedby banding.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0003] As the amount of fuel in the cylinder changes, an inner pressurethereof changes to expand or contract the cylinder. Particularly, anouter diameter of the main body changes to loosen the banding, resultingin failure of securing the cylinder.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a supportstructure for securing a high pressure container.

[0005] An aspect of the present invention is a support structure of acontainer provided with neck portions on both ends of a longitudinaldirection thereof, comprising: a first support member for supporting oneof the neck portions of the container; a second support member forsupporting the other of the neck portions of the container, andelastically pressing the container in the longitudinal directionthereof; and a frame to which the first and second support members arefixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] The invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support structure of a highpressure container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a side view of a rear vehicle body inside provided withthe support structure of FIG. 1.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rear vehicle body inside providedwith the support structure of FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the support structure of FIG. 1with the high pressure container removed.

[0011]FIG. 5 is an explanatory view, partially cross sectioned, showinga neck portion of the high pressure container fixed in a support memberof the support structure of FIG. 1, seen from rear side of the vehiclebody.

[0012]FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of a pipe connecting portion ofthe high pressure container in the support structure of FIG. 1.

[0013]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of asupport member for supporting neck portions of the high pressurecontainer.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be explained below withreference to the drawings, wherein like members are designated by likereference characters. Note that an arrow Fr in each of FIGS. 1 to 3indicates a front of a vehicle body.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, two high pressure containers 1 are arrangedin parallel with each other, supported by a pair of support members 5and 7 provided on a square frame 3, and then stored in a trunk room 20behind a rear seat 11 in an automotive vehicle body 9 as shown in FIG.2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame 3 is fixed on a floor panel 13in the trunk room 20 by bolts and nuts 15. The support members 5 and 7are fixed on the frame 3 by bolts and nuts 17 and 19, respectively.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 4, the first support member 5 includes a flange21 as a base portion to be fixed on the frame 3 by the bolts and nuts17, a supporting plate 23 standing upright on an outer side of theflange 21 in a vehicle transverse direction (X direction), ribs 25 and27 formed on front and rear sides of the supporting plate 23, extendingtoward the second support member 7, and a center rib 29 formed on acentral part of the supporting plate 23 in the vehicle longitudinaldirection, extending toward the second support member 7. The flange 21,the supporting plate 23 and the ribs 25, 27, and 29 are integrallymolded, for example by casting, to constitute a rigid body.

[0017] On the supporting plate 23 perpendicular to a longitudinaldirection of the high pressure container 1, upwardly open U-shapedreceiving portions 31 and 33 are formed with the center rib 29interposed therebetween. Bottom rims 31 a and 33 a of the receivingportions 31 and 33 are respectively formed in circular-arc shapes tomatch a shape of a later-described first neck portion 47 of the highpressure container 1. Side rims 31 b and 33 b for guiding the neckportions are formed to be continuous from the bottom rims 31 a and 33 a.Spaces between opposing side rims 31 b,33 b are respectively expandingupward (or become larger with increasing distance from the bottom rims31 a, 33 a) to widen upper entrances of the side rims 31 b and 33 b morethan those of the bottom rims 31 a and 33 a. Upper rims 31 c and 33 care formed to be continuous from upper ends of the side rims 31 b and 33b. Spaces between opposing upper rims 31 c, 33 c are further expandingupward.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, the second support member 7 includes a flange35 as a base portion to be fixed on the frame 3 by the bolts and nuts19, and a supporting plate 37 standing upright on an outer side of theflange 35 in the vehicle transverse direction. The flange 35 and thesupporting plate 37 are integrally formed, for example by press forming,to constitute an elastic body.

[0019] The supporting plate 37 is provided with a slit 39 from an upperend to near the flange 35 on a central part thereof in the vehiclelongitudinal direction.

[0020] On the supporting plate 37 perpendicular to a longitudinaldirection of the high pressure container 1, upwardly open U-shapedreceiving portions 41 and 43 are formed, with the slit 39 providedtherebetween. Bottom rims 41 a and 43 a of the receiving portions 41 and43 are formed in circular-arc shapes to match a shape of alater-described second neck portion 49 of the high pressure container 1.Side rims 41 b and 43 b for guiding the neck portions are formed to becontinuous from the bottom rims 41 a and 43 a. Spaces between opposingside rims 41 b, 43 b are respectively expanding upward (or become largerwith increasing distance from the bottom rims 41 a, 43 a) to widen upperentrances of the side rims 41 b and 43 b more than those of the bottomrims 41 a and 43 a. Upper rims 41 c and 43 c are formed to be continuousfrom upper ends of the side rims 41 b and 43 b. Spaces between opposingupper rims 41 c, 43 c are further expanding upward.

[0021] Each of the two high pressure containers 1 has first and secondcylindrical neck portions 47 and 49 provided in the vicinity of bothends of the main body portion 45 in the longitudinal direction,respectively. Male screws 51 and 53 are formed on ends of the first andsecond neck portions 47 and 49, respectively. The main body portions 45are accommodated between the support members 5 and 7 in such a mannerthat the first neck portions 47 are inserted into the receiving portions31 and 33 of the support member 5, respectively, and that the secondneck portions 49 are inserted into the receiving portions 41 and 43 ofthe support member 7, respectively. In the above-described state, asshown in FIG. 5, nuts 55 and 57 are fastened to the male screws 51 and53, respectively, thereby fixing the high pressure container 1 to thepair of support members 5 and 7. The support member 7 of the elasticbody always presses toward a base side of the neck portion 49 (towardmain body portion 45 or toward the first support member 5).

[0022] The high pressure container 1 includes a pipe connecting portion59 on an end of the male screw 51 (see FIG. 3) of the first neckportions 47. In this embodiment, the high pressure container 1 isdesigned to store hydrogen to be supplied to a fuel cell (not shown)mounted on the vehicle body 9. As shown in FIG. 6, a hydrogen supplypipe 61 for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell, a hydrogen filling pipe63 for filling the high pressure container 1 with hydrogen from theoutside, and a discharge pipe 65 for discharging internal hydrogen tothe atmosphere in an emergency, for example an excessive internalpressure of the high pressure container 1, are connected to the pipeconnecting portion 59. In FIG. 5, these pipes 61, 63 and 65 are notshown for the clarity.

[0023] Next, description will be made for an operation of the foregoingsupport structure of the high pressure container.

[0024] It is the first and second neck portions 47 and 49 on both endsof the high pressure container 1 that are supported by the supportmembers 5 and 7, respectively. Thus, a change in the outer diameter ofthe main body portion 45 following an inner pressure change of the highpressure container 1 does not affect the fixing on the support members 5and 7, whereby the high pressure container is stably secured.

[0025] A change in a longitudinal dimension of the high pressurecontainer 1 following the inner pressure change, or variance in thelongitudinal dimension among products, is absorbed by the support member7 made of the elastic body, supporting the second neck portion 49 toalways press toward the base side (toward main body portion 45 or towardthe first support member). Thus, the high pressure container 1 is stablyfixed. This eliminates costs for any dedicated elastic members such asrubber for absorbing the above-described change in the longitudinaldimension or variance therein among the products, and possibility ofdeterioration with time in the support member 7, improving reliability.

[0026] Being made of a plate material, the support member 7 has highrigidity in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction ofthe high pressure container 1, and surely hold a heavy load of the highpressure container 1 while flexibly dealing with the change in thelongitudinal dimension thereof. The support member 7 provided with theslit 39 between the receiving portions 41 and 47, 77 and 79 for the twohigh pressure containers 1 can individually deal with the variance amongthe products and the change in the longitudinal dimension of each highpressure container 1.

[0027] In addition, the receiving portions 31 and 33, and 41 and 43 ofthe support members 5 and 7 for inserting therein the first and secondneck portions 47 and 49, respectively, are formed to have upper entranceof the side rims 31 b and 33 b, and 41 b and 43 b wider than that of thebottom rims 31 a and 33 a, and 41 a and 43 a. Thus, the high pressurecontainers 1 with its neck portions in various dimensions can be fixedto the support members 5 and 7. The high pressure container 1 can beloaded from the rear side of the vehicle body after the frame 3 is fixedon the floor panel 13 of the vehicle body 9. The loading is facilitatedespecially in a narrow space such as the trunk room 20.

[0028] Since the first neck portion 47 with the pipe connecting portion59 of the high pressure container 1 is supported by the support member 5made of the rigid body, the pipe connecting portion 59 is not displacedeven if a change occurs in the longitudinal dimension of the highpressure container 1, whereby the various pipe connections thereof(hydrogen supply pipe 61, hydrogen filling pipe 63, and discharge pipe65) are secured.

[0029]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of asupport member 70 for supporting the second neck portion 49 of the highpressure container 1. As in the case of the foregoing support member 7,this support member 70 includes a flange 71 as a base portion to befixed on the frame 3 by the bolts and nuts 19, and a supporting plate 73standing upright on an outer side of the flange 71 in the vehicletransverse direction. The flange 71 and the supporting plate 73 areintegrally formed, for example by press forming, to constitute anelastic body.

[0030] The supporting plate 73 is provided with a slit 75 from an upperend to near the flange 71 on a central part thereof in the vehiclelongitudinal direction.

[0031] On the supporting plate 73 perpendicular to a longitudinaldirection of the high pressure container 1, upwardly open U-shapedreceiving portions 77 and 79 are formed, with the slit 75 providedtherebetween. Bottom rims 77 a and 79 a of the receiving portions 77 and79 are formed in circular-arc shapes to match a shape of alater-described second neck portion 49 of the high pressure container 1.Side rims 77 b and 79 b for guiding the neck portions are formed to becontinuous from the bottom rims 77 a and 79 a. Spaces between opposingside rims 77 b, 79 b are respectively expanding upward (or become largerwith increasing distance from the bottom rims 77 a, 79 a) to widen upperentrances of the side rims 77 b and 79 b more than those of the bottomrims 77 a and 79 a. Upper rims 77 c and 79 c are formed to be continuousfrom upper ends of the side rims 77 b and 79 b. Spaces between opposingupper rims 77 c, 79 c are further expanding upward.

[0032] In this embodiment, a bent portion 73 a protruding outward in thevehicle transverse direction (side opposite the main body portion 45 ofthe high pressure container 1) is formed over a full width of thesupporting plate 73 in the vehicle longitudinal direction between theflange 71 and the receiving portions 77 and 79. Being provided with thebent portion 73 a, the supporting plate 70 can deal, without reducing aplate thickness thereof, with the change in the longitudinal dimensionof the high pressure container 1 or the variance therein among theproducts more flexibly while maintaining high rigidity in the directionperpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the high pressurecontainer 1.

[0033] The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained inJapanese Patent Application No. 2001-332721, filed on Oct. 30, 2001, thedisclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

[0034] The invention may be practiced or embodied in other ways withoutdeparting from the sprit or essential character thereof. For example,the fixing of the support members 5, 7 and 70 on the frame 3 may becarried out not by fasteners such as bolts and nuts but by welding.Moreover, the high pressure container 1 may be filled with high pressurefuel other than hydrogen.

[0035] The preferred embodiment described herein is thereforeillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the claims, and all variations which come within themeaning of claims are intended to be embraced herein.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0036] As described above, according to the support structure of thehigh pressure container of the present invention, since the neckportions in both ends of the high pressure container are supported bythe support members, the outer diameter change of the high pressurecontainer does not affect the fixing on the support members. The changein the longitudinal dimension of the high pressure container followingthe inner pressure change or the variance therein among the products isabsorbed by the elastic deformation of the support member for supportingone of the neck portions of the high pressure container. This eliminatescosts for any elastic members such as rubber as the absorbers, andpossibility of deterioration with time in the support member of thesupport structure, thus improving reliability. Therefore, the supportstructure of the invention is useful as the support structure of thehigh pressure container.

1. A support structure of a container provided with neck portions onboth ends of a longitudinal direction thereof, comprising: a firstsupport member for supporting one of the neck portions of the container;a second support member for supporting the other of the neck portions ofthe container, and elastically pressing the container in thelongitudinal direction thereof; and a frame to which the first andsecond support members are fixed.
 2. The support structure according toclaim 1, wherein the first support member supports the neck portion ofthe container on a side to which a pipe is connected.
 3. The supportstructure according to claim 1, wherein the second support member ismade of a plate material.
 4. The support structure according to claim 1,wherein the second support member always presses the container towardthe first support member.
 5. The support structure according to claim 3,wherein the second support member supports a plurality of the containersarranged in parallel, and has a slit between receiving portions for thecontainers.
 6. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein thefirst and second support members include U-shaped receiving portionswith entrances wider than their bottoms, in which the neck portions ofthe container are inserted from a direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction of the container.
 7. The support structureaccording to claim 3, wherein the second support member includes a baseportion to be fixed on the frame, a receiving portion for receiving theneck portion of the container, and a bent portion between the baseportion and the receiving portion.
 8. A method for supporting acontainer provided with neck portions on both ends of a longitudinaldirection thereof, comprising: supporting one of the neck portions ofthe container on a frame by a rigid body fixed to the frame; andsupporting the other of the neck portions of the container on the frameby an elastic body fixed to the frame, pressing the container in alongitudinal direction thereof.
 9. The supporting method according toclaim 8, wherein a pipe is connected to the neck portion supported bythe rigid body.
 10. The supporting method according to claim 8, whereinthe elastic body is made of a plate material, and always presses thecontainer toward the neck portion supported by the rigid body.
 11. Thesupporting method according to claim 10, wherein the elastic bodyincludes a base portion fixed on the frame, a receiving portion forreceiving the neck portion of the container, and a bent portion betweenthe base portion and the receiving portion.
 12. A method for supportinga plurality of containers arranged in parallel, each being provided withneck portions on both ends of a longitudinal direction thereof,comprising: supporting one of the neck portions of each container by arigid body; and supporting the other of the neck portions of thecontainer by an elastic body made of a plate material, the elastic bodyincludes receiving portions for receiving the neck portions of thecontainers and a slit between the receiving portions, the elastic bodyalways pressing the container toward the neck portion supported by therigid body.